Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Hernandez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hello! My name is Jacqueline Hernandez and I’m the owner of My Pretty Party Co. I’ve always been the type of person to want to celebrate and decorate every birthday, holiday, or season! Even in my previous jobs, I’d be out buying decorations to hang all over the lobby to make everything festive. It’s just something that’s been my passion and has made me happy. When my husband and I had our first baby Luka we made the decision that I would leave my banking career to stay home and raise our son. At first, I was so sad because I loved my job but I couldn’t imagine returning to work and leaving my son with someone, that’s when the idea of starting my own business occurred. Luka at this time was three months old and I was eager to start something but I didn’t know what or even know where to start. One late night I was scrolling through Instagram and I came across a white bounce house, I instantly thought to myself I think this is what I want to do. I then go into a rabbit hole of researching where to buy, what do I need, how much does it cost, etc.
Finally at 3am, I’m waking up my husband who’s sound asleep saying I have an idea I want to start a bounce house company! Half awake he tells me okay sure if that’s what you want to do. Me super excited I start to place my order for my very first modern white bounce house. That’s when My Pretty Party Co. & Bounce House Club came to life. I thought to myself I’ll start a page for my bounce house and I’ll also learn to do balloons so that I can offer it on my bounce house. While I wait the two months for my jumper to be made and shipped overseas I get to practicing on balloons. Lots of YouTube and practice. I’m determined to get the balloons down so that as soon as my new baby comes in I’m going to be ready. It was fun; I was learning how to be a new mom and a new small business owner. I loved getting to be with my baby Luka as I practiced building balloon arches inside my home. I had ordered a metal circle backdrop that I was going to start offering to rent and practicing my balloons on it when I finally thought okay yeah I’m ready to post this and see if I can get any gigs. I was so nervous! Who’s going to hire me to go do balloons for them? My husband being the amazing supportive man that he is pumped me up and gave me the courage to post my work. Little by little I start to get messages and inquiries and I’m so stoked, some is going to hire me to decorate for them! Yes, I’ve practiced a lot at home but to go to someone else’s home and decorate was so scary!
Thankfully my best friend goes with me for moral support and to help me. I completed my first gig and I was like okay, I can totally do this! I loved it and I fell more in love with decorating. As time went on and I started to take on more events I started to feel the pressure of having a small business. Not only am I raising my baby I’m trying to juggle learning to grow my business, be a mom and a wife. It’s definitely not for everyone, there were a lot of tear-filled nights when I just would cry to my husband that I was overwhelmed and I couldn’t do it anymore. I prayed about it and I continued to push forward with my business. Thankfully I did, because I love what I do, getting to be creative and meet other creatives in this industry it’s so inspiring and motivating. I don’t think most people understand all the hard work that goes behind all these insta worthy birthdays, baby showers, and events people throw these days. So blessed to have my husband Sergio (Mr. Myprettypartyco) my business could not have grown to what it is today if it wasn’t for him. He helps me with everything from creating/building my backdrops, making deliveries for me to even now doing events on his own when I have multiple events! I’m still in awe of how much our little business has grown and feel so grateful that I get to do this full-time. I have my dream job while getting to take my husband and baby to work. What more can I ask for!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think owning a business will ever have just a smooth road. It’s just finding what path and what sacrifices your willing to make. It’s definitely been hard trying to juggle being a mom/wife and business owner. As a business owner, you can never just check out like your off the clock. I have to answer questions, inquiries, inventory, marketing, etc. It’s a role that never gets shut off. I don’t think I’ve gone on one vacation where I don’t work on sketches or inquiries. I do try to focus on being present when I’m with my family because it’s easy to get swept away in always working. I love getting to talk to other event industry folks because then I know I’m not alone. We mainly work on the weekends so that means family or friend events we can’t usually attend unless we know months in advance to block out. Not everyone understands and that’s okay but it’s definitely a sacrifice that’s made when you have a small business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a decor company that specializes in balloon decor, backdrop rentals, white bounce houses and event designing. We can help you plan your whole event or just help you with your rental needs, either way we are happy to help! We love getting to create and design for our clients and their special moments. I know I’m most proud of having all my returning clients. It means a lot to me that a lot of my clients I’ve done their events from the gender reveal, and baby showers to first birthdays. So much planning goes into these events that my clients turn into family. We are based out of Chino Hills but we definitely are always all over Southern California.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking, that would be more of my husband Sergio. I wouldn’t say I’m not I just need a little more reassurance than my husband. Lol, I think that’s why we have grown so much because he’s pushed me to take risks to grow my company. I definitely am more of an over thinker. Even when I get asked to do a big job it’s nice to have him to motivate me that I can do it and we can get it done together. Even when purchasing new inventory I think you have to take risks because you don’t know if it’s going to rent or will we take a loss on it. Especially in our industry where a lot of things are becoming over-saturated, I think it’s very important to be a risk taker to try new things and trends that are coming out to stay current and relevant as a business.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Myprettypartyco
Image Credits
Taylor Chavez – xophotocompany
